DENVER - Grand Canyon's Zach Malis and Northern Colorado's Connor Leedholm have been named Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for April 30 - May 6.
Malis, a junior infielder from Tucson, Ariz. (Desert Christian HS), had the WAC's first three home run game since 2015 to help the Lopes clinch their 15th-straight conference series in the finale at CSU Bakersfield. With the series tied at one game each, Malis rose up for GCU on Sunday afternoon, going 3-for-4, all home runs, in an 8-5 extra-inning win. He hit his first home run in the top of the first to give GCU the early 2-0 lead. He hit a solo home run in the third that again gave the Lopes the lead, 3-2, and then after a walk and a groundout in his next two plate appearances, Malis hit his third home run of the game in the top of the 10th to put the Lopes back on top as they would earn the 8-5 win.
Leedholm, a senior right-hander from Lakewood, Colo. (Lakewood HS), was involved in each of the Bears' wins in a three-game sweep of UT Rio Grande Valley. On Friday, he entered the game in the top of the ninth and stuck out two of the three hitters he faced before UNC won on a walk-off single in the bottom of the frame as he earned the win. He again entered on Saturday in the top of the ninth and again struck out two of the three batters he faced to earn the save. His longest outing came on Sunday, going the final two innings and striking out two to earn his 10th save of the season and tie the UNC program record for saves in a single season.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees: CSU Bakersfield's Andrew Penner had multi-hit games in all four contests, finishing the week 9-of-17 from the plate … Chicago State's Tyler Lowe hit .500 for the Cougars, going 8-for-16 on the week … NM State's Nick Gonzales has three home runs in a three-game sweep over Utah Valley to help pull the Aggies within a half-game of the conference lead … Northern Colorado's Matt Burkart was 7-for-13 and had the game-winning single on Friday in a three-game sweep over UT Rio Grande Valley … Sacramento State's James Outman had a team-high .769 slugging percentage as the Hornets earned a series win at home against Seattle U … UT Rio Grande Valley's Coleman Grubbs led the Vaqueros with a .467 average on the week.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees: Grand Canyon's Jake Repavich struck out five over six innings and left the game with a lead before settling for a no-decision against CSU Bakersfield on Saturday … Sacramento State's Parker Brahms tied his own school record for strikeouts with 14 over six innings in a no-decision on Sunday against Seattle U.